Blair on the ropes
Blair on the ropes
Michael Howard knocked the spots off Tony Blair when the two party leaders went head to head in their final question time clash in the Commons before the May 5 general election.An upbeat Conservative Leader put in a brilliant performance as he challenged the Prime Minister on his Government's lack of delivery and record of broken promises during eight years in power.Mr Blair had no answers and looked exasperated and rattled as Mr Howard recalled how the Premier promised no tax increases - but put them up; said he had no plans to introduce tuition fees, then did; pledged firm control of immigration, but allowed numbers to triple; and said he would tackle yob behaviour, only to preside over anti social activity getting far worse.
Mr Howard drove home the attack by repeatedly referring to Chancellor Gordon Brown's doubts about being able to believe anything Mr Blair says; and he brought the House down by asking Labour MPs how many had included pictures of the Premier on their election addresses - with just a handful of embarrassed backbenchers admitting that they had.
Then in a rip roaring end to the present Parliament, Conservative MPs chanted in unison as Mr Howard tore into the Labour record and taunted an edgy Prime Minister on the way taxes, crime, immigration, waiting times, MRSA and truancy are all "up" while, take home pay, pensions, productivity growth, manufacturing jobs, and crime detection rates have all come "down".In a barnstorming performance, Mr Howard declared: "After eight years of Labour government we're locking up teachers not yobs, our voting system resembles that of a banana republic, and pensioners who can't find an NHS dentist are reduced to pulling out their own teeth."
He said:" Isn't there now a clear choice at this election: rewarding this Prime Minister for 8 years of broken promises, or choosing a Government that will take action on the things that matter to hard-working Britons."Seasoned Parliamentary observers described Mr Howard's dynamic despatch box performance as the best they could remember. "He is clearly on terrific form and easily got the best of Blair. It's a great morale boost for MPs and all your candidates who are about to hit the campaign trail and win round the country," one said.
Michael Howard knocked the spots off Tony Blair when the two party leaders went head to head in their final question time clash in the Commons before the May 5 general election.An upbeat Conservative Leader put in a brilliant performance as he challenged the Prime Minister on his Government's lack of delivery and record of broken promises during eight years in power.Mr Blair had no answers and looked exasperated and rattled as Mr Howard recalled how the Premier promised no tax increases - but put them up; said he had no plans to introduce tuition fees, then did; pledged firm control of immigration, but allowed numbers to triple; and said he would tackle yob behaviour, only to preside over anti social activity getting far worse.
Mr Howard drove home the attack by repeatedly referring to Chancellor Gordon Brown's doubts about being able to believe anything Mr Blair says; and he brought the House down by asking Labour MPs how many had included pictures of the Premier on their election addresses - with just a handful of embarrassed backbenchers admitting that they had.
Then in a rip roaring end to the present Parliament, Conservative MPs chanted in unison as Mr Howard tore into the Labour record and taunted an edgy Prime Minister on the way taxes, crime, immigration, waiting times, MRSA and truancy are all "up" while, take home pay, pensions, productivity growth, manufacturing jobs, and crime detection rates have all come "down".In a barnstorming performance, Mr Howard declared: "After eight years of Labour government we're locking up teachers not yobs, our voting system resembles that of a banana republic, and pensioners who can't find an NHS dentist are reduced to pulling out their own teeth."
He said:" Isn't there now a clear choice at this election: rewarding this Prime Minister for 8 years of broken promises, or choosing a Government that will take action on the things that matter to hard-working Britons."Seasoned Parliamentary observers described Mr Howard's dynamic despatch box performance as the best they could remember. "He is clearly on terrific form and easily got the best of Blair. It's a great morale boost for MPs and all your candidates who are about to hit the campaign trail and win round the country," one said.
posted by Carolyn @ 8:45 PM
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